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Monday, 29 September 2014

An ayurvedic detox for autumn

So,
a few people have been in touch asking if I could post up an autumn detox. When I’ve overdone it (last last week, for
example) I usually just shrug it off and get back to my normal eating. I know the things that don’t suit my body –
sugar, wheat, alcohol, heavy rich fried foods – and so I just cut them out
again and start to feel a whole bunch better.

But
a lot of people like to follow a plan.
So, here’s one of my favourite autumn cleanses, based on ayurveda. I like it for this time of year because it's warming. As we prepare for colder weather, it's best not to chill the body with lots of cold juices and frigid salads. Think warming, comforting, soothing.

Ayurveda has a whole science of detox – known
as panchakarma. It was designed as a
potent revitalization and rejuvenation program and was taken by ancient Indian
princes three or four times a year. If
you get the chance to do a full panchakarma, grab it with both hands. It’s not just wishful thinking: the ghee, sesame oil, massage and heat
treatments of panchakarma loosen lipid peroxides (free radicals which cause
cell damage), which are then eliminated in the weeks after detox. In
addition, panchakarma has been found to "significantly" lower stress
and anxiety, to improve cardiovascular health and to scavenge other kinds of
free radicals which cause ageing and disease.

This is a very modified version of panchakarma
but it will still have a profound effect on body, mind and soul.

If you possibly can, get hold of the
ayurvedic preparations Trikatu and Triphala. Follow the instructions on the
product you buy (I like Pukka herbs products). You should expect
your bowels to become quite loose while undergoing this detox. However if this
becomes extreme or uncomfortable, reduce your intake of Triphala.

Although the major part of this detox does fall
over the weekend, you will need to start preparing mid-week so it’s not too much
of a shock to your system.

Wednesday

Start the day with about two fluid ounces of
warmed, liquefied ghee. Swallow it quickly (it doesn’t taste unpleasant, just
strange) then suck a piece of orange to take away the oiliness in your mouth.
Taking ghee internally in this way prepares the body for your detox, loosening
ama (toxins) from the body.

Thursday

Start the day with
ghee as for Wednesday. You can follow it with a mug of hot water and freshly
squeezed lemon which will help your bowels to move.

Eat your usual meals
throughout the day but try to keep them light and avoid rich, heavy foods.
Avoid alcohol and any sugar. Keep away from fried food or junk food.

Boil up four large
glasses of fresh water and keep in a thermos–sip the hot water throughout the
day. This will help to release ama. In addition you can drink another four
glasses of water that has been kept at room temperature (don’t drink very cold
water–it stops the digestion). As you won’t be drinking tea or coffee (or
alcohol) you may want to find something to take its place–try herbal teas or
freshly squeezed vegetable juice.

Before you go to bed,
have a warm (not hot) aromatherapy bath with your choice of oil (juniperberry,
vetivert or eucalyptus). Take Triphala with lots of warm water.

Friday

Again, start with
liquefied ghee. Follow with a mug of hot water and freshly squeezed lemon.

Eat a light diet
today. Cut out heavy proteins such as meat, cheese, eggs and milk. If you drink
tea or coffee you can continue up until the end of your working day, but cut
down your intake.

As yesterday, drink
eight large glasses of mineral water–at least four should be hot.

Avoid salt and sugar.

Breakfast could be
fruit compote; stewed fruit; fruit salad; oatmeal porridge made with water and
served with nuts and seeds (plus a little maple syrup if you like – yes, it’s
sugar but it’s not too bad).

For lunch choose
something like steamed vegetables with a little lean chicken or fish or tofu.

After each meal take
Trikatu.

Prepare yourself a
light supper: a bowl of vegetable soup or dhal and basmati rice. Eat it as
early as possible-around 6pm is ideal.

Lunch is a small bowl
of kichadi. Chew each mouthful mindfully. Take Trikatu.

Make sure you drink at
least eight glasses of water throughout the day (remember, don’t drink cold
liquids with your meal). If you can drink it hot, so much the better. If not,
make sure it is room temperature rather than straight from the fridge or tap.

Mid-afternoon you can
have some fruit (either fresh or gently stewed). Or a handful of nuts and
seeds.

Eat your supper at
around 6pm. Once again, have a light meal of kichadi followed by
Trikatu.

Don’t forget the Triphala before bed.

Sunday

Have your usual hot
water and lemon on rising.

For breakfast have
stewed fruit and herbal/spiced tea followed by Trikatu.

For lunch have kichadi
followed by Trikatu.

Remember to drink your
warm water throughout the day.

Have your evening meal
at around 6pm. Once again have kichadi and Trikatu

Have an early
night. Triphala as before.

Monday

Have your usual hot
water and lemon juice.

Breakfast as for
Saturday and Sunday.

Today you can return
to a more varied diet but don’t race into it. Stick to vegetable soup for lunch
or maybe a light pasta with vegetable sauce. Follow meals with Trikatu.

Supper should be
light–vegetable risotto or paella, root vegetable stew, soup, pasta. Try to
avoid meat as it’s hard to digest. Steer clear of dairy for the same reason.
Bread is also difficult to digest–if you must have it, toast it. Follow it with
Triphala as before.

After Ayurvedic Detox

You may be able to take longer for your home
detox. If so, that’s great and you can safely repeat the guidelines for
Saturday and Sunday for as long as feels comfortable.

Whether you just do the weekend or continue for
a longer detox make sure you ease yourself gently back into normal living. In
other words, don’t suddenly start eating a full diet (packed with meat, dairy,
stodge); drinking alcohol and coffee; staying up late etc. Your system won’t
know what’s hit it.

It’s all safe to continue on a regular
basis–except the internal taking of ghee, the ayurvedic preparations (Triphala
and Trikatu) and the very modified diet.

There are a whole bunch of things you can do to
support yourself while on detox – I’ll post some more over the next few days
(if I can remember!).

I’ll also put up a Cheat’s Detox. J

For longer detoxes see my book The Detox Plan which also gives lots of advice on supporting therapies and DIY tips for home detoxing

For more on ayurveda see my book Live Well - how to work out your prakruti (mind-body type) and how to adjust your diet, exercise and lifestyle to suit your individual type.

This post is getting too long - I'll post recipes for ghee and kichadi on a separate post.

@Ali - Well, orthodox advice is to avoid all fat if one suffers from gallstones or has had gallbladder removed but I'm not so convinced by that. Saturated fats composed of short and medium chain fatty acids should be fine - and ghee falls into the short chain category.But go cautiously... you can do the detox without the ghee if you're worried.

@Rachel - it's a sort of lentil potage - I'll post the recipe. :)

btw, forgot to say, this detox is not suitable if you're pregnant - and one should avoid triphala while pregnant.